One of Danville’s — and entertainment’s — biggest stars celebrates his 99th birthday on Dec. 13, and there’s sure to be a bit of singing and dancing involved.
Dick Van Dyke fondly recalls the place where he was born in 1925. Throughout his career — starting in radio, and moving on to movies and television — he makes frequent reference to the place where he grew up. While in high school, a doctor diagnosed a heart murmur in Van Dyke. That caused the track hopeful to switch his sights to the drama department. It was a decision that has paid off many times over.
“We thought it was the capitol; of the universe,” Van Dyke said in a 2016 Illinois Public Media story. “Everybody just loved Danville. …”
Few entertainers enjoy a career as long and as honored as his. After graduating from high school in 1944 and a brief stint in the military, Van Dyke started on a path that led him to a role in the 1960 Broadway musical “Bye Bye, Birdie,” where he earned a Tony award.
From the stage, he moved to television, where “The Dick Van Dyke Show” hit the airwaves in 1961. The show quickly became a hit and ranks as one of television’s classic comedies. It still can be seen today on a number of streaming channels. His work on that show brought him three Emmy awards.
Van Dyke’s next move was to the big screen alongside Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins,” another classic role as Bert the chimney sweep in a classic film. He also portrayed the banker Mr. Banks Sr. in the movie, a role he reprised in the 2018 “Mary Poppins” remake — 54 years after the original.
Movies — “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Night at the Museum” and others — and more television — “Van Dyke and Company,” “Diagnosis Murder” and dozens of guest roles — followed.
His latest venture comes in the world of music videos, playing himself — and singing and dancing, of course — in Coldplay’s “All My Love.” The longer version of the video, which can be seen on YouTube, includes Van Dyke’s comments on his life and career.
His legacy is a long one. During the course of his 80-plus years in entertainment, he’s received a Tony; a Grammy in 1965 for the “Mary Poppins” soundtrack; a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award; Kennedy Center Honors; the 2003 Career Achievement award from the Television Critics Association; and 12 Emmy nominations, with wins for “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Van Dyke and Company” and, most recently a Daytime Emmy in 2024 as Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for a role on “Days of Our Lives” where his wife, Arlene, portrayed a police officer who arrested him.
Few other entertainers can match such a long and successful career. Through it all, Van Dyke stayed the guy from Danville. He’s often talked about his career and how special it has been.
“I think I’m one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would have done anyway,” he says in Coldplay’s video. “When you think how lucky I am. I got to do what I do — play and act silly.”
He also should have added providing entertainment and millions of smiles to those who have seen him perform.
We join many, many others in wishing the happiest of birthdays to Danville’s Dick Van Dyke. After all, you provided many happy moments for us during the past 99 years.